Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - Like others around the country, Minnesotans will take part in Tuesday’s National Night Out event.

Thousands in the Rochester area will be among them.

Last year, more than 70,000 people were invited to Rochester neighborhood gatherings and other events in the city. Most of the events run from 5 - 8 p.m

As of Tuesday morning, 436 events had been registered with the Rochester Police Dept. Coordinator Darrel Hildebrant says more than 85,500 people have been invited to attend the events. That's more than double the 2015 number. Hildebrandt says there were 401 registered events in 2016 with invites sent to more than 76,300 people, which was a new record.

The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office has registered 33 events with an expected attendance of nearly 2,000.

National Night Out is described as “a community-police awareness-raising event “ that began in 1984. It’s held on the first Tuesday of August, although Texas and Florida have the option to switch to the first Tuesday in October if it’s too hot.

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